Do you believe in me?

Lately I've been feeling quite discouraged about my career choice. I find the frustrations of the College of Education have sucked the fun out of teaching for me. I watch my poor roommate, in her first year of teaching, come home every day HOURS past the time she was paid for, completely exhausted, and wonder... is that really what I want for my future? I watch my tidy, organized little bedroom slowly unwravel as I never have enough time to finish one project before the next one begins. I can't remember the last time I got a good night's sleep. And I constantly question whether or not I'm even making a difference.

Then today, two things happened that renewed my confidence in myself and in my decision.

1) Our "troublemaker" student was up to his usual shenanigans today during math, and I called him on it, as I usually do. In my head I'm thinking this kid must really hate me, i'm always telling him to "make a better choice" or "prove to me that he can be responsible". Then, I took some time to work with him on the incredibly complicated skill of borrowing when doing subtraction problems. I was patient and encouraging. And during our transition from math to literacy, when chaos consumes my classroom for just a few minutes as students put away old supplies and get out new ones, he came up to me and did something without even saying a word that caught me completely off guard: he HUGGED me. Then he looked up at me, smiled, and returned to his desk. And you know what? He wasn't a trouble maker the entire rest of the day. :)

2) My mentor teacher passed along this video to me. Please, please, PLEASE take a few moments out of your day to watch it. This kid can't be more than thirteen years old and yet he's one of the most inspiring speakers I've ever seen: http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

So, I'm starting to believe in me again... but do you?